CNLP 702 |The Secrets of High Conversion Growth Churches And the Keys to Evangelism in Today's Culture with Joby Martin and Mike Housholder
Jan 9, 2025
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Joby Martin, founder of Church of Love, and Mike Housholder, senior pastor at Lutheran Church of Hope, share their insights on high-conversion church growth. They discuss breaking misconceptions about church success and emphasize authentic evangelism that nurtures genuine community connections. The duo explores how to communicate effectively with both insiders and outsiders, fostering an inclusive environment. Innovative strategies to attract new believers while maintaining spiritual depth take center stage, highlighting the importance of unity and collaboration in ministry.
High conversion church growth hinges on reaching unchurched people rather than relying solely on transfer growth from other churches.
Successful evangelism requires church leaders to build genuine relationships within their communities despite current cultural challenges and societal hostility.
True church growth stems from a strong foundation in faith and the work of the Holy Spirit, rather than superficial attendance metrics or gimmicks.
Deep dives
Understanding High Conversion Church Growth
High conversion church growth focuses on reaching unchurched individuals rather than relying solely on transfer growth from other churches. The discussion highlights that approximately 80% of church growth often stems from transferring members instead of converting new believers. Church leaders Joby Martin and Mike Householder emphasize the importance of engaging with those who have no prior church background, suggesting that understanding this distinction is crucial for effective evangelism. Their insights advocate for a deeper examination of church mission, encouraging leaders to think more about personal connections rather than programmatic methods.
Challenges in Evangelism Today
The current landscape of evangelism presents significant challenges, with a startling statistic indicating that only 1% of pastors believe their churches are effective at outreach. The conversation notes a disconnect between discipleship and evangelism, wherein many Christians treat the two as separate tasks rather than integrated facets of faith. Joby and Mike point out the difficulty of engaging culture, highlighting societal hostility toward Christianity and the unique obstacles modern evangelists face. They emphasize the need for church leaders to adapt and be proactive in fostering genuine relationships while sharing their faith in relatable ways.
Perspectives on Church Growth Misconceptions
A big misconception about church growth is that it is primarily driven by programs, style, or image, leading to a superficial focus on attendance numbers. Joby and Mike argue that true growth should stem from a strong foundation in faith and the Holy Spirit’s work rather than gimmicky approaches to attract visitors. They share personal experiences to illustrate that many successful church leaders are often surprised by their growth, as they never intended to build large congregations. This perspective encourages a holistic understanding of church health, calling for attention to spiritual depth rather than mere outward metrics.
Creating a Culture of Invitation
Both leaders advocate fostering a community where church members feel empowered and equipped to invite others to explore faith. Joby mentions creating an environment at his church that inspires invitations, such as themed weekends where the congregation is encouraged to bring friends for clear gospel messaging. Mike adds that sharing opportunities for personal connections, like the Alpha course, creates pathways for newcomers to engage meaningfully with the church community. This culture of invitation not only attracts attendees but also nurtures authentic relationships that are vital for spiritual growth.
The Importance of Personal Connection in Evangelism
Joby and Mike discuss the necessity of maintaining personal connections in their lives to ensure effective outreach to unchurched individuals. They stress that being actively involved in community activities and forming genuine friendships outside the church context allows them to share their faith more naturally. Both leaders encourage embracing vulnerability in their pastoral roles, allowing personal struggles and real-life experiences to resonate with others. By practicing what they preach and engaging honestly with their communities, they exemplify a journey of faith that others can relate to, making evangelism approachable and impactful.
Joby Martin and Mike Housholder both lead high-conversion growth churches. That means the growth they're seeing isn't coming from transfer growth. How are they doing it?
As the 2025 Church Trends series continues, they share their secrets to reaching unchurched people, how to speak to insiders and outsiders at the same time, and the keys to evangelism in today's culture.
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